Tips for Safely Riding a Motorcycle in the City

Motorcycle registrations continue to rise in Spain, and during the first quarter of 2025, according to ANESDOR data, sales have increased by 7% compared to the same period last year.

In cities, especially the larger ones, more and more people are opting to commute daily by motorcycle or scooter due to the many advantages they offer in terms of saving time and money. In major city roads like those in Barcelona, motorcycles and scooters flood the daily traffic: a study by AMV, a company specializing in online motorcycle insurance, showed that new motorcyclists, who previously used a car, save nearly 500 euros a year on fuel, maintenance, repairs, parking, insurance, or taxes. Moreover, the same study indicates a time saving of almost 25 minutes daily in commutes. Additionally, they are easy to drive and park. However, riding in the city also poses risks, which is why some basic recommendations are crucial for navigating the urban jungle as safely as possible.

1. Use Appropriate Gear

Regardless of the journey, it is essential to be aware that on a motorcycle, we are the chassis, so wearing a good helmet that is approved and fits our head perfectly, a jacket with protection, gloves, boots or closed shoes, and trousers is crucial for our protection in case of an accident.

2. Make Yourself Visible While Riding

We must use indicators when starting off and whenever we perform maneuvers such as exiting a roundabout, overtaking another vehicle, turning, or changing direction. It is very important that other road users know in advance what our movements on the road will be. Additionally, wearing a reflective vest is advisable.

3. Ride with Caution

Inappropriate speed is one of the main causes of accidents. Therefore, it is advisable to respect the speed limits for each road and adjust it according to traffic conditions. Moreover, we should always use mirrors, checking them whenever we are about to make a maneuver. Slightly turning our head to both sides when possible will be very useful to know what is happening around us, especially on narrow streets that tend to have more limited visibility and may have obstacles like double-parked cars. Always be cautious not to ride too close to parked cars on the right, as a driver might open the door without looking. Lastly, we should maximize caution when riding in bus-taxi-motorcycle lanes, if permitted in our city, as taxis and buses can make unexpected stops, so we should ride as much as possible on their left.

4. Stop the Motorcycle Correctly

When stopping at a traffic light, it is much safer to do so on one side of the lane rather than in the center, thus avoiding the vehicle behind us from potentially hitting us, and when starting again, we will not obstruct the flow of other vehicles. We should not be in a hurry to accelerate when the light changes.

5. Maintain a Safe Distance

Always maintain a prudent distance from the vehicle in front to anticipate an unexpected stop. Never position yourself in its blind spot, as you could collide with it if it turns and is unaware of your presence.

6. Watch Out for Pedestrians

When riding in a city, special attention must be paid to pedestrians, as they may suddenly cross a zebra crossing, get on or off a bus at stops, or rush or jump a traffic light. Therefore, it is essential to reduce speed and be very attentive to possible pedestrian movements.

7. Pay Close Attention to Certain City Elements

Cities have a series of elements that can pose danger and cause an accident if we are not sufficiently attentive to them. AMV experts detail the most common ones:

- Pedestrian crossings and road markings: They are a trap for motorcyclists. Their slippery paint does not facilitate tire grip on the asphalt. It is most advisable to try to pass over them without making sudden accelerations, as we could skid and end up on the ground.

- Manhole covers and potholes in the streets: Special attention must be paid to manholes that are elevated on the road, or those that are poorly placed, and potholes, as they can cause us to lose control of our motorcycle.

- Dirt on the road: Oil stains commonly found at gas stations, garages, etc., can be an added danger to our riding.

- Tram rails: Another common danger that often causes accidents are tram rails found in certain cities, such as Barcelona. Extreme caution is needed with them, especially in winter with rain, as they become very slippery.

8. Maintain Your Motorcycle

It is not only about being cautious when riding in a city, but also about performing good maintenance on our motorcycle. These are the fundamental aspects every motorcyclist should consider:

- Tire pressure and condition. It is advisable to check their reading always with a cold rim. The appropriate pressure varies between the front and rear tires. Meanwhile, the tread depth should be correct, according to the manufacturer's indications.

- Chain lubrication and tensioning. Dirt and grease should be removed from the chain every 500 kilometers under normal conditions. Additionally, tension can be checked with a screwdriver, moving the chain upwards and then performing the tensioning.

- Check lights, indicators, and horn. Both indicators and low beam, rear brake light, high beams, and horn must work. It is advisable to check the electrical circuit beforehand.

- Check fluid levels. Oil, brake fluid, and coolant.

- Check brake pads. Simply look between the disc and the pad to know their wear.

9. Have a Good Insurance for Riding in the City

And since, despite taking all precautions, an incident can occur at any time, it is essential to have good insurance that covers us in case of an accident. AMV experts recommend choosing the motorcycle insurance that best suits the budget and needs of each user. If the motorcycle is used intensively in a city, the most recommended insurance type would be "Comprehensive" since, in addition to third-party damage coverage, it covers "own damage" to the motorcycle in accidents, with or without a counterpart. It is also highly advisable to ensure the inclusion of breakdown coverage (roadside assistance), driver accidents, and/or equipment. However, many factors can influence the decision on the type of insurance to contract (age and value of the motorcycle, age and experience of the motorcyclist...) and optional coverages to add (use of the motorcycle, kilometers of the journeys...).